Differential



DIFFERENTIAL Filed Jan. 23, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVINTOI R.G.LeTbu.:-neau,

ATTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1947- R. G. LE TOURNEAU DIFFERENTIAL 3 Shoots-Shoot 2 Filed Jan. 23, 1945 R. G La Tburncau av M Fab. 4, 1947. R. 0. LE TOURNEAU I DIFFERENTIAL Filed Jan. 23, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR R. G. Lejburncu ATTORNEYS Patented IE'eb. 4, 1947 Robert G. Le Tourneau, Peoria,

R. G. Le Tourneau, Inc.

poration of California Application January 23, 1945, Serial No. 574,050

6 Claims. (01. 74-315) The present invention relates to, and it is an object to provide, an improved difierential for motor vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a differential constructed so as to minimize slipping v collars being fixed on the differential cage.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a vehic'le diiierential and brake in novel combination.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device,- and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

7 In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the differential.

Figlure 2 is a transverse section on line 22 of Fig.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal view with the brake unit removed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end elevation of the brake unit;

Referring now more particularlyto the characters of reference on the drawings, the differential comprises a rotary cage, indicated generally at I, which cage is of two-piece construction, split centrally, and normally held in unitary relation by means of bolts 2. At one end the cage 5 includes a trunnion 3 supported in an adjustable combination annular and thrust bearing 4. At the opposite end the cage is formed with an integral drive sleeve '5 of substantial diameter and length; said drive being formed at its outer end with a trunnion 6 supported in an adjustable combination annular and thrust bearing 1. The bearings A and 1 are supported by opposite ends which each head engages in rela-' tively rotatable but friction-drag relation, said- Ill., assignor to Stockton, Calif., a corof the diiferential housing, which is indicated diagrammatically in dotted lines at 8. Adjacent the trunnion 6 the drive sleeve 5 is formed with are.- dial flange. 9 to which is attached a bevel ring gear I0, the latter meshing with a driven bevel pinion I I fixed on the rear end of the vehicle drive shaft I2 which projects through the difierential housing 8; the pinion II and shaft; I2 being indicated diagrammatically by dotted lines.

The rear axles of the vehicle are indicated at I 3 and project into the difierentialthrough the trunnions 3 and 6, said axles terminating at their inner ends within the cage l in adjacent but spaced relation.

The inner ends of axles I3 are splined, as at I4, into the hub i5,of bevel, diiferential gears Ni journaled in the cage in spaced but matching face to face relation.

The bevel gears I6 run in mesh with and are interconnected by four bevel, differential pinions Ii equallyspaced apart; each pinion corresponding to and being centered relative to one side of the cage, which cage is four-sided. At each side the cage is formed with a circular recess It concentric to the corresponding differential pinion I I.

The pinions I l are each formed with an axial,

, outwardly projecting hub I9 to which is fixed a circular rotary head 20; each head 20 being generally concavo-convexo with the concave side innermost, whereby the peripheral portion of said head extends some distance into the corresponding circular recess I B.

Each head is formed on the outside and adjacent the periphery with an annular, concentric groove 2| of right-angle shape in cross section. A collar 22, having a circular bore, is fixed on each side of the cage I by means of bolts 23 and rides in the groove ZI of the adjacent head 20. Each collar 22 also includes an annular, inwardly projecting flange 24 disposed some distance radially out from the bore of the collar 22 and concentric to the corresponding head 20; said flange riding engagement with the periphery of said head. With this arrangement, adjacent heads 20 and collars 22, frictionally engage both at the bottom of grooves 2I and at the periphery of said heads; such engagement producing a substantial friction drag between said parts upon relative rotation therebetween.

The above described diiierential normally functions in a conventional manner. However, when one of the drive wheels of the vehicle rides on a surface which tends to permit said wheel to slip and spin, such tendency to spin is minimized to a substantial extent by reason of the friction drag assembly arranged in connection with the differential pinions and cooperating between the latter and the cage; such friction drag assembly comprising the circular rotary heads 20 frictionally engaged by the collars 22 and flanges 21. The friction drag between such parts is' such that than the other, a. compensating resistance to such relative differences in axle speed is produced, which tend to prevent any relatively greatdifference in speed between the driving wheels of the vehicle.

v The difierential also incorporates therein a, brake structure, as follows:

'when one of the axles l3 tends torotate faster A radial flange 25 is fixed in connection with thecage l at one end thereof and at its periphery.

' ferential gears in the cage, a difierential pinion- 2. A diflerential as in claim 1 in which said pair of co-operating annular surfaces are disposed at a right'angle to each other.

3. A differential including a driven cage, differential gears in the cage, a differential pinion in mesh between said gears, a circular head on the pinion, said head being supported for rotation within the cage wall and constituting the support and bearing for the pinion, and means to frictionally resist rotation of the head. T

4. A differential including a driven cage, dif

ferentialgears in the cage, a diflerential pinion in mesh between said gears, circular head on'.

the pinion, said head being supported for rotation within the cage wall and constituting the sup-, port and bearing for the pinion, and an element projected into the cage wall about said head and frictionally engaging the head whereby to resist rotation thereof.

5. A differential including a, driven cage, dif- Y in mesh between said gears, the cage wall being compartment of the vehicle through the, medium of pull link 29 and a foot pedal 3|]. Upon depression of the foot pedal 30 the actuating linkage 28 sets the brake band unit 21, brakingthe provided with a recess which is substantially concentric with said'pinion, acircular head fixed to the pinion and .rotatably mounted in said recess and forming the support and bearing for the pinion, a collar fixed to the outer" edge of the recess and overhanging and frictionally engaging drum 26. As the drum 26 is fixed in connection with the cage i, braking of said drum likewise brakes the cage I, which in turn produces'a braking action on both of the shafts l3 and the vehicle wheels. I I

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen thatthere has been produced such a device tion as set forth herein.

While this specificationsets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the. spirit of the invention,-as defined-by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the folas substantially fulfills the objects of the inven lowing i claimed asnew and useful andttupon which Letters Patent is .desired:

1 1. A difierential including a driven cage, differential gears in the cage, a differential pinion inmesh between said gears, and means arranged to frictionally'resist difierential rotationof said gears;'- said means being a circular head fixed in 1 connection and rotatable ,with the differential pinion, and a, collar surrounding and frictionally engaging said head, said head and ,collarihaving Y a pair of adjacent but angularly disposed cooperating annular surfaces.

a portion of the top of the head whereby to resist rotation of such head.' I '6.'A differential including a driven cage, differential gears in the cage, a difierential pinion in mesh between said gears, the cage wall being provided with a recess which is substantially concentric with said'pinion, a circular head fixed to the pinion and rotatably mounted in said recess and forming the-support and bearing for the pinion, a collar fixed to the outer edge )of the recess and overhanging'and frictionally engaging a portion of the top of the head whereby to resist rotation of such head, and an annular inturned 'flange on the collar projecting into the recess and frictionally engaging the outer edge of the head to further resist the rotation thereof. a y RQBERTG. LE TOURNliIAUf j FERENCES CITED The following references-are of. record file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date. f, 1,315,236 Parker Sept. 9,1919, 1,316,057 Parker Sept. 16,191'9' 2,064,152 Conboy Dec. 16,193

2,354,214, Lockwood July 25,319 4 

